Percentage of donations based on specific requests

Eight-four per cent of donors, 92% of consolidators and 35% of
recipients indicated that over half of their donations are based on a specific
request (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Percentage of respondents
that replied that over 50% of their donations are based on a specific request (n
= 96)

Discussion

The difference of opinion between donors and consolidators on
the one hand and recipients on the other probably indicates a real difference in
perception as to what constitutes a "specific request", with many recipients
believing that they received many donations without specifically having asked
for them. The review of the experiences with the Guidelines was
undertaken relatively shortly after their launch. It is possible that donation
practice has changed at the level of the donors and consolidators (resulting in
more new donations based on requests), while older donations (without specific
requests) are still arriving in the field. If this is so, it would indicate that
donations are improving. If not, there is a serious misunderstanding between
donors and recipients. A follow-up study will be needed to see whether recipient
opinion is changing over the next
year.